UK begins full enforcement of Electronic Travel Authorisation—Hong Kong travellers now need digital clearance

KPMG’s Global Mobility Services team issued Flash Alert 2026-060 on 9 March 2026, confirming that the United Kingdom is now fully enforcing its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) regime for visa-exempt nationals. Since 25 February, airlines must deny boarding to passengers who cannot show an approved ETA or other valid UK immigration permission. Although British National (Overseas) passport holders are exempt, ordinary HKSAR passport holders—who previously enjoyed visa-free entry for short visits—must now complete the online application and pay the £16 fee before each trip. The ETA is valid for multiple entries over two years and is processed through a dedicated smartphone app.



VisaHQ can streamline the UK ETA process for Hong Kong travellers and corporate mobility teams by offering step-by-step digital assistance, automated reminder tools and an integrated dashboard that syncs with HR or expense systems; details are available at https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/

Carriers will conduct automatic Advance Passenger Information checks; travellers without a verifiable ETA will be prevented from checking in. For Hong Kong-based corporates with frequent London, Manchester or Belfast rotations, failure to integrate ETA checks into travel workflows could translate into missed client meetings, project delays and reputational damage. KPMG advises multinational employers to audit traveller profiles, flag UK-bound employees in HRIS or expense platforms, and build automated reminders at least one week before departure. Dual British citizens must carry their British passports or Certificates of Entitlement; using a secondary nationality may trigger carrier or border-control problems. Meanwhile, mobility managers should update policy handbooks to include ETA costs as a reimbursable expense and establish escalation contacts for last-minute approvals. Looking ahead, the UK Home Office has signalled that real-time API/API-Plus data feeds will be mandatory from late 2027, meaning employers should future-proof their duty-of-care systems now. The UK move also foreshadows similar EU ETIAS requirements—slated for mid-2026—that will affect Hong Kong passport holders travelling to the Schengen Area.